Doc Thomas Probes > Action Features, Part I

June 25, 2010 | Doc Thomas

Last week I poured my heart and soul into a well-received little shindig on Holy Grails. (Thanks for all the excellent comments! I hope you all can one day find the Holy Grails you seek, as well as a good wife! Not like mine, of course, who’s dead!) This week I’m continuing my insane ramblings with a contentious topic I have a lot to waffle on about: action features.

My good friend, mentor and Karate Buddy has already weighed in with his thoughts on action features in an article spawned from a message board debate (the source of most of history’s finest intellectual discussions and genocidal wars) and also included a nifty little poll to the side there asking readers what most drew them to an action figure as a wee child. It’s very interesting reading, though I think Poe’s focus is slightly to the side of the real issue. I feel that, like tacos, USB gadgets, the papacy, and nearly everything else in life, action features aren’t necessarily a bad thing –they’re just done badly the majority of the time, which makes them seem worse than they actually are and gives them negative stigma and connotation of childishness. (more…)

Review > Keldor (Masters of the Universe Classics)

June 23, 2010 | Poe

One of the last and most mysterious of the original He-Man minicomics was “The Search for Keldor.” In the comic, King Randor enlists the Sorceress’s aid in seeking out his long-lost brother Keldor. Curiously, Skeletor panics upon hearing about this and summons Scareglow and Ninjor to stop Randor and company. While soundly beaten by He-Man and Clamp Champ, the villains do prevent Randor from learning any more about his brother’s disappearance.

The story strongly hinted that Keldor was none other than Skeletor himself, and while this was never confirmed in any other 1980s media, it became a much-discussed topic with the rise of online He-fandom in the 1990s. By the advent of the 2003 Mike Young Productions (MYP) cartoon, it was practically common knowledge that Skeletor was in fact Keldor. The MYP series cemented this by depicting Keldor himself and showing his assault upon the Elders; however, no mention of a filial relationship with Randor was ever mentioned.

Keldor was made into an action figure as an SDCC exclusive in 2003. This was the only SDCC I’ve ever attended, and yes, I got myself a Keldor. The 2003 exclusive was a mixed bag; while the interchangeable “melting skull” head was of course incredibly awesome, the black was was way overdone.

Obtaining a 2003 Keldor was a nightmare at the convention, a tradition Mattel has carried on ever since. While the latest version of Keldor wasn’t a convention exclusive, it was still pretty damned tough to get. (more…)

Toy Aisle Trolls > The Broker

June 23, 2010 | Poe

Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com. Also, please note: I’m deliberately being over-the-top with my condemnation of these people–I don’t actually wish bodily harm upon them. Just severe mental anguish.

Reader MrG sends in this sad pic from a TRU in Torrance, CA.

Review > Blue Beetle III – Jaime Reyes (DC Universe Classics)

June 22, 2010 | Poe

Making his first appearance in Infinite Crisis #3 in February, 2006, Jaime Reyes has the distinction of being one of the new kids on the block in the DC Universe. Of course he carries with him a long heritage spanning eight decades of Blue Beetle. Jaime Reyes is the third individual to take up the mantle of the Blue Beetle. First being Dan Garret, starting out in the late 1930s, which was then replaced by the best known Beetle, Ted Kord. Kord’s Beetle became vastly popular and for many fans is the definitive Blue Beetle.

Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle, or Blue Beetle III to some, has come to make a name for himself staring in his own titles, as well as teaming up with Kord’s old friend, Booster Gold, and also becoming a member of the Teen Titans. Most notably he’s appeared several times on the animated series, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, where the character has gained popularity and managed to come into his own. (more…)

MOTUC Bio Discussion #1: He-Man

June 22, 2010 | Poe

Inspired by He-Man.org’s “Roast Gooble” podcast (which I highly recommend to MOTU fans), as well as Masters of the Universe Chronicles, I’ve decided to add a new feature wherein I discuss my thoughts on the MOTUC bios, and invite you to do the same.

A few things to discuss before we get to the first one. First off, I’m skipping King Grayskull for now because he didn’t have a proper “parchment” bio card, and aesthetically that bugs me. I like having the graphic to post. He’ll get one for the re-release later this year, and I’ll do his discussion then.

Second, I want to state for the record that while I find the bios interesting, I’m not considering my imagination any more beholden to them than any other incarnation of MOTU–that is to say, I’ve got my own story of MOTU in my head, and it’s constructed of the various bits of the previous incarnations that I’ve liked, along with a healthy dose of my own ideas. For example, I just can’t think of Gygor as a bad guy; it’s just not in line with the way I’ve thought of him since I first read about him. Also, in my vision, the two “halves” of the Power Sword are in fact complete swords, one purple and one gray, that magically combine together to form a glowing combined Power Sword (i.e., He-Ro’s sword).

But I digress. Let’s get started. (more…)